J.R. & Linda Church

The founder of Prophecy in the News, Dr. J.R. Church, started his life-long ministry when he left Lubbock, Texas, in 1957 to attend Tennessee Temple University in Chattanooga, Tennessee. J.R. and his beautiful wife, Linda, were married on August 16, 1958 in Lubbock.

Together they moved back to Chattanooga, Tennessee, where J.R. received his formal Bible education to pursue the ministry they felt the Lord was leading them to do. In 1962, he received a B.A. degree with a major in Bible and a minor in history. In 2001, he was given an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Immanuel Baptist Theological Seminary in Peachtree, Georgia.

While in college, he pastored a small country church named “Jumpoff Baptist Church” in the mountains near Chattanooga.

After college, J.R and Linda moved back home to Lubbock where, in the early 1960s, they started their ministry with a new church named “Lubbock Baptist Church.” Within just a few years, they built their first building and renamed the church, “Western Hills Baptist Church.” While pastoring the church in Lubbock, J.R. and Linda started a Christian School with 250 students and a day care for 80 children. He pastored that church for 17 ½ years until they moved to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, in November of 1979 and started “Prophecy in the News” ministry.

Throughout his life, J.R. was always most interested in prophetic Bible research. He loved Bible prophecy, had a weekly television program and published a monthly magazine. He traveled throughout the country to speak at churches and conferences. J.R. and Linda took eight tours to the Holy Land of Israel.

J.R. Church was head of the ministry for 31 years and authored eight books, until he went home to be with the Lord on March 22, 2011.

Though he never approved of date-setting, he felt the return of the Jews to their Promised Land was the single greatest prophetic fulfillment, an event that launched the march towards the “last days.” He was convinced that the only hope for this sin-cursed world lies in salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. The return of the Son of God will bring true peace and the prosperity to the human race.

Linda has continued the great work of the ministry that she and J.R. founded together over 35 years ago, along with their children, Terri and Jerry, Jr., and Dr. Kevin Clarkson as the television host as well as a staff of over 20 dedicated family members and employees. Prophecy in the News will continue to be the place to be for Prophecy News and information for Christians. There really is a utopia in the future – in Jesus Christ! That is our blessed hope, so keep looking up!

Dr. Kevin Clarkson

“My passion is to see people come to KNOW Christ, help them GROW in their faith, and learn to GO carry His love to others. It’s such an incredible joy to get to study God’s word and share its riches with people every week of my life! I love watching God’s church at work, making an impact on lives, being a part of the greatest enterprise in the whole world – God’s kingdom!” – Dr. Kevin Clarkson

Dr. Clarkson began pastoring at First Baptist Church in Moore, Oklahoma, in the fall of 2001. He studied at Oklahoma Baptist University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Dr. Clarkson has a passion to see people come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and grow in their faith. He followed the ministry of J.R. Church at Prophecy in the News for many years.

His love for God gives him an incredible joy as he studies God’s Word and shares its riches with people every week through our television ministry that reaches millions of people around the world and through his Sunday church services.

Dr. Clarkson and his lovely wife, Cherie, were married in 1982. They have been blessed with seven amazing children. Their dear son and fourth child, Joey, went home to be with the Lord in 2016, after a rare illness.

Education:

Doctor of Ministry, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Ft. Worth, Texas, 1990. Project: “Leading the Local Church in Long-Range Planning for Total Church Growth”

We are thrilled to have Dr. Kevin Clarkson as the host of our weekly television program and a contributor to our monthly magazine. He states, “I am excited about the future that the Lord has for me at Prophecy in the News.”

Linda Church, Dr. Kevin Clarkson, and all of the dedicated employees of Prophecy in the News, continue the work of Dr. J.R. Church to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the message of His soon return to millions of people around the world.

Statement of Faith

We believe in God, revealed in three persons – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

We believe that Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, was born of a virgin woman named Mary. He lived a sinless life, and died on the cross and rose again bodily on the third day, so that we as sinners may receive his salvation and the promise of eternal life. Faith in Jesus Christ saves us from a literal hell, for a literal, eternal Heaven. He ascended into Heaven with a promise to return some day.

We believe the Bible is the verbally inspired, infallible Word of God, without error or fault in its original manuscripts. The Scriptures should be dispensationally interpreted.

We believe the Bible clearly teaches that Jesus Christ is coming again – first in the air to resurrect those believers who have died and to rapture those who are still alive. His coming may occur at any moment prior to the Tribulation Period.

We believe in the visible, personal, premillennial return of Jesus Christ to the earth at the close of the Great Tribulation. He will establish His kingdom and reign for 1,000 years. Afterward, we shall enter Heaven, the Holy City, New Jerusalem, where we shall live and serve God throughout eternity.

We believe in God’s promise of eternal life for the saved and His warning of eternal damnation for the lost.

If you, dear friend, have not yet come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ as your own personal Savior, we encourage you to give your life to Christ. Just say a prayer and ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins and come into your heart, so that you might have eternal life and be “born again.”

Letters and Comments from
Our “Friends in Christ”

Hey PITN, I must say with the loss of key players from the past, your magazine has taken on a whole new MUCH IMPROVED flavor. I love the variety of the contributors to each issue…not basically one man’s slant on issues. Not harping on Nephilim, UFO’s etc., but on current goings on in the world of prophecy. Bill Salus is spot on and Bob Cornuke is keeping me in suspense with his monthly installments!! And I never get tired of reading J.R. Church’s articles which are timely always. Good job PITN. Looking forward to my next magazine!!

Julia – Email Message

Had a chance to review your updated web site – “WOW'” – “WOW” – “WOW”. What a TERRIFIC, COMPLETE, up to date web site. Congratulations, this will make such an impact to those that don’t know anything about prophecy – to those that do know about prophecy & want to know more. I especially like the way it’s tied to the current events; OUTSTANDING. May God continue to bless your ministry. JR must be looking down from heaven with a BIG, BIG, ear to ear smile on his face. Praise the Lord and keep on reloading & passing the “SPIRITUAL AMMUNITION”.

David – Email Message

Dear Linda,

Bless you for continuing with J.R.’s work. He was not only dear, but had incredible knowledge of our Bible. My Prophecy in the News magazine is the most valued mail I receive. Thank you so much!
Always looking up,

Joan in Florida

I have meant to write PITN a long time ago to say “Thank you” for the positive, Biblical changes that took place after Dr. Clarkson was hired to sit in the Host’s chair. I had given up on the channel not long after the passing of J.R. Church. Now that the program has returned to putting God and Scripture first, I have been a more faithful viewer. As an aside, Dr. Clarkson won my heart as he had to endure the suffering and then loss of his son. God bless you all!

Carmen – email message

Thanks for offering all these wonderful DVDs. People are responding to them! Rev. Jerry R. Church would be so happy to know his work is going on!!!

Jesus is coming soon!!!
Shirley in Georgia

I love the new website with Kevin’s Korner, the news links, even stories from the magazine.
Well done!! It looks great!
Keep up the good work.

Joan – email message

Dear Linda Church,

I was very sorry to read your letter telling of the loss of air time on the church channel. I have never been able to hear Prophecy in the News on TV or radio, but I can imagine this kind of loss for your viewing audience. I receive Prophecy in the News magazine and really look forward to getting it in the mail. I am sending a donation now, and hope to order some of your materials in a few weeks. Your ministry is my resource for prophetic info. Please keep it up!

Mary Jane in Iowa

Dear Linda,

Thank you for answering my questions. I’m sorry you had to go through what you did with Gary and Bob, especially after losing someone dear to you. Their actions surprise and sadden me. Perhaps they needed to reread Romans 12:3 “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according to God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”

Since you were open with me, I will be open with you. Perhaps this incident was God’s way of protecting you and preserving Prophecy in the News. All through the years I have subscribed to your magazine. The minute I received the new issue I would usually read it straight through. The last few months before Gary’s name disappeared from the magazine, it kept getting more focused on UFOs and the supernatural rather than prophecy. I would glance through it and put it down without reading most of it. The last few issues I didn’t even bother to look at. I had decided to let my subscription drop after it had run out. Now, once more I am anxious to get the new issue and usually read it straight through again.

Thank you!

I respect your husband’s work and always felt it to be God-inspired. May God continue to bless you and your efforts to preserve Mr. Church’s heritage.
Sincerely and with love,

Judi in Kentucky

Dear Precious Brothers & Sisters in the Lord,

I love your ministry and each and every one of you. You are so special to me. J.R. is really missed. What a real man of God he was, but he is home with our beautiful Lord Jesus. We are here.

God bless and keep you each. May we hear the shout soon!

Your sister in Christ Jesus, Mary in Ohio

PITN,

I want you to know that I support you 100%. I may not always agree with everything I hear on your network, nor do I agree 100% with your guests. However, I welcome the opportunity to learn what others believe about prophecy, even when they sometimes change their views, because the interpretation of prophecy is fluid due to the amount of information we don’t yet have. I have always found you folks to be humble and sincere in your dealings with those of other opinions, and I admire the way you show respect to everyone involved. My prayers are with you, and I will continue to support you as much as I possibly can. God bless.

Richard – Facebook Friend

Dear Linda Church,

I do so love your program, magazine and the various products you offer. I can’t imagine not having your program, magazine or products to go to for a Godly resource. Here’s Looking Up!

Sue in Florida

THANK YOU!!

I’ve taken your magazine for years and would not want to miss a copy!

Gilbert & Gail in Texas

Folks,

Really do enjoy your magazine & TV show. J.R. would /is so proud that you are keeping God’s word going.
Blessings to you,

Marquita in Texas

Dear Linda,

Thank you & J.R. for your many years of ministry. I am also a widow and live on social security. I pray our heavenly Father will continue to bless your ministry financially.
Love in Christ Jesus,

Barbara in California

Great ministry! Keep up the good work!

Leslie in Minnesota

Mrs. Church,
Prophecy in the News is the publication I most look forward to each month. Keep up the good work! Sometime in the future I would like to visit you folks. I have folks that live near there.
Ed in Kansas

We really enjoy your program. Great Guests!
Don in California

Thank you so much for your faithfulness to your listeners. Your hard work for all the Books and DVDs. I’ve prayed for many years for a program of Prophecy and I love it! I always read the last chapter in the book and Revelation was read first…HaHa!

Thank you,
Carol in Tennessee

I met Bro. Church back in the 1980’s and then he was one of my hero’s. I only do one year subscription at a time because I have every book, VHS, tape that he did. Also, I’m 77 years old and have had cancer for 15 years – chemo for 12 years.

I love you people and I wish I could support you for more than I do or have, but money has been scarce. God has blessed me beyond belief and He deserves all the praise. There have been some dark days when your magazine has come and really cheered me up and renewed my faith! Keep up the good work and may God continue to bless Prophecy in the News!

In Christian love,

Ken in Tennessee

Dear Linda Church,

Here is a donation in honor of my husband Gary, who went home to be with the Lord on 7/26/2015. He too lost his battle with end-stage Kidney failure. My husband supported and missed J.R.. Prophecy in the News was one of His favorite ministry’s due to his won interest in prophecy and the ministry J.R. shared with the world.
I hope you are doing well and Keep Looking Up!
I hope this donation will help in some small way. God bless you & your family.